Program Objective & Description

Expanding on lessons learned from prior DARPA Biological Technology Office (BTO) programs (N3, HAPTIX, and ElectRx), CoasterChase seeks to understand whether modulating neurons in the enteric nervous system (specifically the small intestine) could modulate the warfighter stress response under extreme conditions, improving training recall and decision-making in the moment and mitigating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the long term. 

CoasterChase aims to achieve these goals by exploring the effects of multiple stimulus modalities on the neurons of the small intestine as well as developing a sensing and stimulation platform in an ingestible form factor. Through exploring the response properties of neuropeptide Y (NPY)-producing enteric neurons as well as understanding requirements necessary to cause a stimulus-evoked change in the concentrations of cortisol and NPY, CoasterChase will deliver a new understanding of enteric neuromodulation.

Concurrently, through sensing biomarkers that arise as a function of different stimulation paradigms, CoasterChase will explore the dynamics of stress response activation. Finally, through the development of the ingestible sensing/stimulating platform, CoasterChase will enable active neuromodulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis through selective stimulation of a subset of enteric neurons. This technology will then be used to explore task-related performance as a function of cortisol (and NPY) concentrations in both acute and chronic in vivo preparations.

CoasterChase is a 24-month fundamental research program with two 12-month phases (base and option) that addresses two parallel functional areas (FAs). The first functional area (FA1) is focused on exploring enteric targets and stimulation parameters to modulate biomarkers of acute stress in empirical models, and the second functional area (FA2) encompasses the development of hardware capable of enteric sensing and stimulation in an ingestible form factor.

Performer teams are expected to have a range of expertise including: conducting studies of empirical models of acute and chronic stress; the HPA axis; neuromodulation; biomolecular sensor design; cellular response to electrical, thermal, and/or mechanical stimulation; stimulation parameterization; development of closed-loop systems; and development of ingestible devices.

Event Participation (In Person Only)

Registration

There is no registration fee for the Proposers Day. The registration deadline is July 2, 2025 at 12:00 PM Eastern. Advance registration is required to participate in the meeting. Participation will be in person only. There will be no remote attendance option. 

Due to space limitations of the conference facility, attendance will be limited to the first 136 registrants, and no more than 3 representatives per organization. Individuals who are unable to register because the deadline has occurred may request to be added to the waitlist. If slots become available due to cancellations, the slots may be filled on a first-come, first-served basis from the waitlist.

Attendance at this event is not a requirement for submission of a proposal or selection for funding. Information relayed during the Proposers Day will be made available on the BTO section of the DARPA Opportunities page: http://www.darpa.mil/work-with-us/opportunities.

Eligibility

DARPA hosts Proposers Days to promote teaming arrangements between researchers; provide potential performers with information on whether and how they might respond to the Government’s research and development solicitations; and to increase efficiency in proposal preparation and evaluation. Therefore, Proposers Days are open only to registered potential proposers.

All registrants who are not U.S. Citizens must complete and submit either a DARPA Form 60 (U.S. Permanent Resident and Foreign National Visit Request — e.g., industry or academia) or an Official Visit Request (foreign government personnel, only) through the Embassy based in Washington, DC, no later than 5:00 PM Eastern on June 30, 2025. Form 60 submission instructions will be provided in the registration confirmation email. Contact your Embassy staff for assistance in submitting the Official Visit Request.

DARPA Connect

For those new to DARPA or national security, DARPA makes available a free, comprehensive resource via DARPAConnect on how to do business with the agency. In addition to DARPA 101 materials, relevant preparatory modules include “Making the Most of a Proposers Day” and “Understanding DARPA Broad Agency Announcements.” Registration and access are free at http://www.darpaconnect.us/.